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On April 30, San Franciscoâ€™s Justin Herman Plaza will serve as the setting for a collision of fixed gear biking and urban contemporary art, creating a visually exciting and awe-inspiring event called Red Bull Ride + Style.

This weekend is the kickoff to Bike Month, a May filled with events, rides, etc.

Sunday is the TD bank 5 boro bike tour, when over 30,000 people will realize, “Hey, its ok to ride my bike.”

Here is an article from WNYC news blog, about bike shop’s gearing up:

Bikers Gear Up for Five-Boro Bike Tour and Season
By Stephen Nessen
Friday, April 29, 2011

The city will celebrate bike month by closing 42 miles of streets for the sold-out Five-Boro Bike Tour on Sunday when 32,000 cyclists will pedal through the city in what is the 34th year of the event.

Bike shops across the city have been flooded with requests for last-minute tune ups, tire changes and gear tightening. Mechanics at Bike and Board in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, said they’ll be up all night if need be in order to get bikes ready for the weekend.

Looks like the Travel Channel shelved the messenger documentary tv show: Triple Rush. John Prolly, talked to the show’s creators and explained what happened, here.

I guess viewing audiences weren’t ready for a show about dangerous jobs…oh wait,

I mean, not unless they are about vehicles burning fossil fuels.

One of the show’s stars, legendary founder of the messenger company breakaway courier Rob Koch is on to new things…

“I’ll be riding with my partners in Boston for a great cause on Martha’s Vineyard this weekend. Team Breakaway Courier is participating in the MS “Ride the Vineyard” on Saturday April 30th. Our goal is to raise $10,000 so we can help rid this world of MS.

A small donation of $5 or$10 or $20 can be made by clicking on the following link.

Broadway Bicycle Co., a bike shop designed for everyone from children on training wheels to blazing-fast racers, holds its grand opening today in downtown Albany, New York.
Located at 1205 Broadway, near Menands, the business is owned by Les Plaine.
Plaine owns Plaine and Son, a bicycle, ski and snowboard store on State Street in Schenectady.

Here is a great article from Wired Magazine taking a thoughtful look at NYC bike messengers adapting to the new trends in technology which also threaten their livelihoods. The article features couriers Austin Horse and Wild Bill Meier (on the road since 1982) and Samurai messenger company owner, Josh Weitzner.

Digital files, cloud computing and accelerating broadband have long put bike messengers on the endangered species list. No matter how fast a messenger is, even a triple rush canâ€™t compete with instantaneous. For messengers, technology is more of a threat than wily cab drivers and potholes.

But, oddly, technology is also what keeps them around. The evolution of software and mobile phones has allowed some messenger companies to work in autonomous cells, rather than as an overhead-heavy hierarchy. A central headquarters is now obsolete, and profit-sharing employees take turns dispatching and making runs.

Friday
April 29th, Critical Mass all around the world including…NYC.
Meet at Union Square North at 7pm for a fun festive ride around town.

April 30th,
Kick off the bicycle season with the 13th annual Blessing of the Bikes. (photo by Ed Glazar)
9:30am-SHARP!
at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine
112th St. and Amsterdam Ave, Manhattan

A brief ceremony for riders of all faiths who’s true calling is the religion of the Bicycle.

April 30th is also the 1st annual New Amsterdam Bicycle Show.

Here is a brief write up from Velojoy.com Itâ€™s like the Auto Show, but for bikes. In tune with the growing popularity of bicycling inh
Bikes, accessories and apparel, from brands like Raleigh, Specialized, Jamis, Nutcase and Outlier will be on display on three floors of Center 548 at 548 W. 22nd St. in Chelsea. In addition, the Bikelandia program sponsored by Bicycling Magazine and SRAM will feature discussions, artworks, readings and opportunities to learn about advocacy and bike safety. Also on tap: a bicycling fashion show, a hand-built bicycle row, giveaways, and more. Go to www.newambikeshow.com for complete information. Tickets, $15, benefit Transportation Alternatives.

Date: Saturday, April 30th, 2011
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Time’s Square, Manhattan
Summary: Dress up as a polar bear and ride in the Square to raise awareness about global warming.
Details: Floods, Cyclones, Snow Storms, Birds falling from the sky, Ice caps melting. The Earth is telling us something. This Earth Day, show your support for sustainable transportation and clean energy; be a Polar Bear. The Polar Bears are on bikes and they’ve got a message. Bring your own Polar Bear costume or come to the Costume-making party TBA.

Also on Saturday,

Bike New York which brings you the 5 borough bike tour, and other great events, is kicking off their BIG bike ride with an outdoor festival in Brooklyn, BIKE FEST.

Description:
Bike New York proudly announces the first-ever Five Boro Bike Fest. This free, family-friendly event is open to the public and features live entertainment, classes, bike repair, and an expo with demos and giveaways. The Bike Fest is part of a fun-filled weekend that kicks off Bike Month (May) and includes the TD Bank Five Boro Bike Tour Presented by Eastern Mountain Sports, the largest bicycling event in North America, on May 1.

Description from the website:On May 1, more than 30,000 cyclists will experience New York City from a perspective unlike any other: pedaling down 42 miles of car-free streets through all five boroughs, taking in views of iconic landmarks like the Empire State building, Brooklyn Bridge, historic Harlem, and the Statue of Liberty. Regular registration is sold out for the 2011 Tour, but you can still get in on the fun by contacting one of our charity partners for a guaranteed entry or registering as a VIP. Hurry! Spots in these areas are limited, too!